Baylor Busts Lady Raiders 85-69

Staff Reports

02/09/2002

WACO, Texas--Baylor's Danielle Crockrom wanted to end her career with at least one victory over <b>Tech</b>, a team the Lady Bears hadn't beaten since 1983.

She led the way Saturday in her final regular-season game against Tech, going 14-of-15 from the field and scoring a season-high 31 points as No. 10 Baylor earned an 85-69 victory over No. 15 Tech to end the Lady Raiders' 39-game winning streak in the series.

"I can't explain how good it feels," Crockrom said. "We were all yelling '83!' '83!' because it's been that long since we beat them."

The last time Baylor beat Tech was in the Southwest Conference tournament.

Sheila Lambert added 22 points for Baylor (19-4, 7-4 Big 12).

"I was very disappointed in Lubbock," said Baylor coach Kim Mulkey-Robertson, whose team lost to Tech there last month. "I told the team then that they didn't have heart, but today they showed me both heart and guts. Danielle really put on a show today."

"It's very brutal in this league," Tech coach Marsha Sharp said. "I don't think at this time we're quite good enough at both ends of the floor to play with the top four or five teams. They (Baylor) were like a freight train coming at us at times today."

Baylor trailed 30-29 at the half but outscored Tech 56-39 in the second half with Crockrom going 9-of-9 from the field and scoring 19 points.

"I thought early on we were shooting well, but we had some layups that didn't fall," Mulkey-Robertson said. "I told the team they were doing what was right and to keep shooting."

Baylor trailed 30-29 at the half, but outscored Tech 56-39 in the final 20 minutes with Crockrom going 9-of-9 from the field and scoring 19 points.

The Lady Bears shot 82 percent in the second half, making 23-of-28 attempts, and held Tech to 14 field goals on 33 shots for 42 percent.

Tarr scored 16 points in the first half, connecting on 6-of-8 shots including 4-of-5 3-pointers.

"I came out really hot, but I really can't keep it for a whole game like that," Tarr said.

Tech went on an early 9-0 run and led 24-13 with just over eight minutes remaining before halftime. But Baylor outscored the Lady Raiders 16-6 to close the first half and trail by just a point.

In an error-plagued first half, Tech committed 16 turnovers, while Baylor had 11.